2021 Buick Enclave

Buick’s line of two- and three-row SUVs are worth considering for shoppers looking for a nicer interior than in a Chevrolet or Ford without the luxury prices of a Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, or Acura. Options within Buick’s lineup start with the Envista, which is unusually sized between a large sedan and a subcompact SUV. The largest options include the three-row Enclave. Some of Buick’s models have earned Consumer Reports recommendations for having intuitive infotainment systems and quiet, pleasant interiors. Among U.S. car companies, Buick also ranks high in our new car reliability ratings. Some recent models also made our lists of recommended used cars.

Redesigned for 2018, the Enclave provided improved fuel economy, more space, and a variety of safety and connectivity features. Power comes from a lively 3.6-liter V6 teamed with a smooth, responsive nine-speed automatic. We got 18 mpg overall in our tests. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds. The roomy cabin is very quiet and the ride is comfortable, befitting a Buick flagship. The third-row seat is relatively roomy for the class. The infotainment system is easy to use, but the unintuitive gear selector is a nuisance in parking maneuvers. A manual sunshade for the sunroof and only a two-way lumbar adjustment for the seat are odd, given the price. The Enclave is freshened for 2022 with a number of exterior styling updates. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning become standard. Highway-speed automatic emergency braking is available. Other changes include a new rear power sunshade for the available power moonroof, revised seat trim and seat foam, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.